Ratio graduate for use with post-mix beverage dispenser

Abstract

A water/syrup ratio graduate for use with a post-mix beverage dispensing system is described. The graduate includes two fluid receiving chambers, one of which receives water (carbonated or still) from a post-mix dispenser nozzle and the other of which receives syrup from the nozzle. One of the chambers has maximum and minimum fluid level marks thereon and when the liquid level in that chamber is between the marks the water/syrup ratio can be read directly off a scale on the other chamber.

What is claimed: 
     
       1. In a system for measuring the volume ratio of a first fluid to a second fluid using a ratio graduate and an on-off valve means by dispensing the first fluid and second fluid into said graduate, the improvement comprising: said ratio graduate having;   (a) a first fluid chamber for containing said first fluid having a minimum line and a maximum line disposed thereon at a predetermined distance from each other; and   (b) a second fluid chamber for containing said second fluid adjacent to said first fluid chamber, said second fluid chamber having graduations indicative of various first fluid to second fluid volume ratios disposed thereon;   (c) said minimum and maximum lines and said first fluid to second fluid ratio graduations being related such that when said first fluid is at a level between said minimum line and said miximum line, the first fluid to second fluid ratio may be read directly off said first fluid to second fluid ratio graduation to provide a first fluid to second fluid ratio within a predetermined accuracy determined by the predetermined distance between said minimum line and said maximum line, wherein said valve means is turned off to stop the flow of said first and second fluids when said first fluid level reaches said minimum line.   
     
     
       2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first fluid to second fluid ratio may be read within said predetermined accuracy if said first fluid level remains between said minimum line and said maximum line after the flow is terminated.   
     
     
       3. The system of claims 1 or 2 wherein said first fluid is water and said second fluid is beverage syrup; wherein said ratio graduate is for measuring the water to syrup ratio in a postmix beverage dispensing system; and   wherein a separator nozzle is used to simultaneously dispense said water and said syrup.   
     
     
       4. The system of claims 1 or 2 wherein said first fluid is soda and said second fluid is beverage syrup; wherein said ratio graduate for measuring the soda to syrup ratio in a postmix beverage dispensing system; and   wherein a separator nozzle is used to simultaneously dispense said soda and said syrup.   
     
     
       5. A system of measuring the volume ratio of water to syrup in a postmix beverage system by dispensing separated soda and syrup into a ratio graduate by using a separator attached to a dispensing valve, said ratio graduate comprising: a water chamber for containing said water having a minimum line and a maximum line disposed thereon at a predetermined distance from each other; and   a syrup chamber for containing said syrup adjacent to said water chamber, said syrup chamber having graduations indicative of various water to syrup volume ratios disposed thereon;   said minimum and maximum lines and said water to syrup ratio graduations being related such that when said water is at a level between said minimum line and said maximum line, the water to syrup ratio may be read directly off said water to syrup ratio graduations to provide a water to syrup ratio within a predetermined accuracy determined by predetermined distance between said minimum line and said maximum line;   means for turning said dispensing valve off to stop the flow of water and syrup from said separator when said water level reaches said minimum line;   said water to syrup ratio being read within said predetermined accuracy if said water level remains between said minimum line and said maximum line after the flow is terminated.   
     
     
       6. A method of measuring the volume ratio of a first fluid to a second fluid using an on-off valve means and a ratio graduate, the ratio graduate including, a first fluid chamber for containing said first fluid having a minimum line and a maximum line disposed thereon at a predetermined distance from each other,   a second fluid chamber for containing said second fluid adjacent to said first fluid chamber, said second fluid chamber having graduations indicative of various first fluid to second fluid volume ratios disposed thereon,   said minimum and maximum lines and said first fluid to second fluid ratio graduations being related such that when said first fluid is at a level between said minimum line and said maximum line, the first fluid to second fluid ratio may be read directly off said first fluid to second fluid ratio graduations to provide a first fluid to second fluid ratio within a predetermined accuracy determined by the predetermined distance between said minimum line and said maximum line,   said method comprising the steps of:   turning on said valve means to dispense said first and second fluids into said first and second fluid chambers, respectively;   turning off said valve means to terminate the flow of said first and second fluids when said first fluid level reaches said minimum line; and   reading the first fluid to second fluid ratio within a predetermined accuracy from said ratio graduations if said first fluid level remains between said minimum line and said maximum line.   
     
     
       7. The method of measuring of claim 6, wherein said first fluid is water and said second fluid is beverage syrup; wherein said ratio graduate is for measuring the water to syrup ratio in a postmix beverage dispensing system; and   wherein a separator nozzle is used to simultaneously dispense said water and said syrup.   
     
     
       8. The method of measuring of claim 6, wherein said first fluid is soda and said second fluid is beverage syrup; wherein said ratio graduate for measuring the soda to syrup ratio in a postmix beverage dispensing system; and   wherein a separator nozzle is used to simultaneously dispense said soda and said syrup.